HOME MATTERS 2022
Homelessness When a household’s rent or mortgage payments compete with other basic needs, such as food and healthcare, they are at risk of homelessness. In the 2020 Point-in-Time (PIT) counts,a communities across Florida identified 27,640 “literally homeless” people - those staying in shelters, on the street, or in other places not meant for human habitation. According to data from HUD’s Point-in Time Counts of Homeless People in Florida Florida’s homeless population has declined by 57% since 2007, although this drop masked a peak of 57,551 in 2010. Florida has outperformed the nation in reducing homelessness among families in almost every demographic group. Overall, the state’s progress in reducing literal homelessness is a testament to the “Housing First” model’s success and strong political support for homeless assistance programs.
Housing Instability Leads To Homelessness Florida has outperformed the nation in reducing homelessness among families in almost every demographic group. Overall, the state’s progress in reducing literal homelessness is a testament to the “Housing First” model’s success and strong political support for homeless assistance programs. When broken out by race, it’s clear that some racial and ethnic groups experience homelessness at disproportionate rates. Almost 40% of people experiencing homelessness are Black/African American even though Black/African Americans only make up 16% of the state.
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The U.S. Department of Education (ED) requires public school districts to identify children and youth who are homeless at any time during the academic year (including summer school). Children who are doubledup or living in motels due to their family’s loss of housing or economic hardship are defined as “homeless” by ED and comprise most of the students identified as homeless. Unfortunately, this data suggests that family homelessness has increased both nationally and in Florida. Florida reported 40,967 homeless students in the 2008-2009 school year. That increased to 91,068 in 2018-19, the last year for which data is available18 – a net increase of 122%, indicating an increased need for affordable housing for low-income families.
Low-Wage Jobs Low-wage jobs are prevalent in Florida’s economy and have been particularly affected by COVID-19 (discussed in Section 5). According to the United Way of Florida’s latest report on Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households, the “survival wage” for a household with two adults, one infant, and one preschooler was $34.76 per hour in 2018 (the report
When broken out by race, it’s clear that some racial and ethnic groups experience homelessness at disproportionate rates. Almost 40% of people experiencing homelessness are Black/African American even though Black/African Americans only make up 16% of the state.
HUD requires Point-in-Time counts of “literally homeless” people to be conducted at least biennially by Continuums of Care (CoCs), or geographically defined networks of homeless service providers. Most CoCs in Florida and across the nation conduct their PIT counts on a single night in the last week of January. a
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In the ALICE Report, the United Way of Florida assumes that each adult works 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year. THE FLORIDA HOUSING COALITION | FLHOUSING.ORG
